Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Chop and freeze

Buying in season and while on sale are two good ways to save money, but what to do in the off season...grab it from your freezer. Many times you end up with and odd amount of an item. Rather than throw it away, dice it up and package it in a ziploc type bag in a single recipe measurement, be sure to push the air out before sealing, label the bag with the date an contents and then freeze flat. By freezing in a bag rather than a container you will be able to fit significantly more in a small space. Frozen veggies are best used within 90 days of freezing and frozen items typically work best if used in a cooked dish (such as spaghetti sauce, casseroles, soups etc) because the texture can change some during the freezing process. Thaw slightly to get it to realease from the bag easier, then add to pan when cooking. By freezing in smaller amounts, you should have just the right measurement for one dish, so no waste here.

Here are some veggie suggestions to dice and freeze when you have extra. You can even combine several items together to make a "soup starter" or "sauce starter" for later.
  • Tomatos
  • Onions
  • Green peppers
  • Jalapeno and other hot peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Zucchini
  • Fresh herbs
If you grow your own garden and have lots to freeze, here is a garden link for specific directions - http://www.gardenguides.com/416-freezing-vegetables.html

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